One Father's Day about three years ago, my wife and daughter surprised me with an E-Flight Ascent glider.

She got the idea while having a picknick in the local park with our daughter. They were watching a man fly an RC plane around for a while when they noticed that it wasn't making any sound and realized it must be a glider. My wife knew I sorely missed piloting full scale gliders and thought I might enjoy flying one from the ground as a substitute. With the help of our local hobby shop (Al's Hobbies in Norwalk, CT) she settled on the Ascent.

I had never flown an RC plane before, and the first flight of my Ascent lasted about two seconds in a quick, over-my-head loop and gravity check.

Undaunted, I found a local flying club (New Canaan R/C Society). They helped my fix my plane, and got me up and flying on their club plane. Roger Kleinert, the club president, and the entire club could not have been more friendly and helpful.

A few years and about eight planes later, I think it's safe to say I'm hooked.

I fly (mostly gliders) every chance I get, and when I'm not flying I'm thinking about it.

As I travel around the country on business, I drop in at local flying fields just to watch and get a "fix". Without exception, I'm greeted as a friend and made to feel right at home.